Fire-extinguishing composition



ARTHUR BIDD'LE, or mcsuv'ron, NEW unnsnv, nssreivon T0 UNITED monucrs coarona'rxon or AMERICA, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING COMPOSITION.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, ARTHUR BIDDLE, a citizenlof the United States, and a V resident of the city of Trenton, county of Mercer, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Compositions, as fullydescribed in the following specification.

The invention relates to a composition of matter or a chemical compound containing ingredients or elements adapted, when chemical reaction occurs, to give off a fire extinguishing gas and to produce a large quantity of bubbles forming a foam of high viscosity and containing such gas, the foam adapted to form a blanket between the combusti-ble substance and the supporter of combustion.

Among the objects of the invention is to utilize the waste or by-product liquid of paper pulp mills in connection with other suitable chemicals adapted to react to produce or form a foam of high viscosity adapted when properly applied to prevent and extinguish fire, particularly in oil tanks, although the same is applicable for preventing and extinguishing fires in other relations.

In the manufacture of paper from wood pulp, there are generally two processes employed, one an alkaline process known as the soda process and the other an acid process known as the sulphite process. In practising either of said processes,there is produced a by-product heretofore of little or no commercial value, generally called glutrin or pulp liquor. That produced by the paper pulp process first above referred to is usually called soda glutrin and that produced by the second, sulphite glutrin.

Both glutrins are heavy viscous liquors, the viscosity of which may be increased by evaporation.

Other processes are in use for obtaining wood pulp from which like by-product liquors are obtained, but the above-mentioned processes will serve as illustrations for disclosure of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular liquors mentioned herein, but such other by-product' liquors obtained from the manufacture of wood pulp and similar manufactures are of utility in combining the suitable chemicals Application-filed July 7, 1920. Serial No. 394,453.

to produce the result obtained by the herein disclosed invention.

Heretofore the extinguishment of fires, particularly in large oil tanks, has been ver difficult. The usual mediums of fire extmguishing, such as water, is of no use for such purpose; in fact, water has a tendency to spread the fire. Discovery has been made, however, that a fire extinguishing foam may be produced by combining two portions of chemicals; one portion being a.65 solution of an extract of licorice root and sodium bicarbonate and the other portion being an acid, usually sulphuric acid. Frequently, the first portion mentioned may include soapy solutions, as well as glues of various kinds so as to form a saponified and viscous mass, of bubbles upon the reaction of the chemicals. The extract and the soap or glue solutions are expensive, in that they require a large amount of reacting chemicals to secure the desired result.

By my invention, however, I have discovered that a very viscous foam may be formed which will have such tenacity and durability that the upward rush of the flames will not readily destroy the blanket of foam poured upon the oil surface and in that respect the blanket will be more effective to cut off the supporter of combustion than in the case where the foam is weak and readily torn apart or broken up by the upward rush of the hot gases or flames. I make use of a by-product liquor which is cheap; in fact, '1s a drug on the market, and with which suitable chemicals, if desired, may be mixed to produce the desired reaction to cause the foam to be formed.

In the soda process, the liquor obtained is of an alkaline reaction, while that obtained from the sulphite process has an acid reaction. I have found that by mixing an excess of. liquor from one process with liquor of the other process a reaction will occur between the alkalis of one liquor and the acid in the other liquor sufficiently to cause an evolution of non-combustible gas, which will be enclosed in myriads of bubbles in the materials of the liquors and form a heavy, viscous and thick foam which may be poured over or forced upon the surface of the material that is burning. This foam is viscous and it may be projected from a nozzle upon the Walls and ceilings of the building to which it will cling or adhere to form a blanket, separating the air from the article or'surface that is burning. If a more active reaction is desired, where the excess chemicals contained in the liquor is not sufficient, suitable chemicals may be added,-

be mixed therewith in order that the lattermay react with thealkalis of the glutrin and produce a mass of bubbles and foam as above mentioned. Any suitable acid may be used and while I prefer the use of sulphuric acid because of its greatest activity, other acids, such as nitric, hydrochloric, acetic, boric and lactic acids may be used as desired. I have also found that the sour whey or milk which contains lactic acid formed from lactose or milk sugar, is a very economical agent to be used. Vinegar also is of utility, as it contains mainly acetic acid and for a mild acid is of important utility. Salts of these acids and similar acids, may also be used. It has also been found that a very satisfactory result will be obtained if an excess of the gas bearing chemical, such as the carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium,;may be added to the soda liquor when the fdam is to be formed.

' in the case of using the sulphite liquor or .glutrin for extinguishing purposes, the

same may be stored in a suitable container with its acid chem1cals used in obtainlng such liquors and upon the occurrence of a fire, may be mixed with a suitable alkaline agent or chemical which will react with the chemicals of the liquor to produce carbonic acid gas or, other non-combustible gases. Among such alkaline substances are sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, marble dust, and other carbonates and bicarbonates, principally of magnesium, barium,v calcium, and certain natural forms of these chemicals, such as limestone, dolomite, or magnesite, thesodium bicarbonate being the most active and preferable when a large capacity reaction is desired. The strength and the amount of these chemicals or compounds maybe determined upon the particular strength desired and amount of gas to be produced, as Well as the viscosity of the foam desired. An acid salt that has been found to give satisfactory increased acidity to the liquor, is acid sodium sulphate which phite glutrin the cases Where the liquor is more or less diluted 4 or greater vicosity and tenacity of the foam bubbles is desired, that a foam with improved fire proofing quality may be obtained by adding certain constituents, such as proteinous matter, glue or casein dissolved in an alkali, starch, flour, gums, glucose, silicate of soda, soaps, or saponified matters, and certain residue liquors given ofi in the treating of sugar cane and sugar beet, all of which contain more or less proteinous and similar matters that greatly aid in making thefoam 1 viscous and durable. In the event of using casein or silicate of soda, it is preferable that the same should be added to the gas bearing solution, that is, the solution havingcthe carbonates, bicarbonates and alkaline substances, since acid solutions have a tendency to precipitate casein and sodium silicate, but the other substances may be added to either the alkaline or acid liquor, that is, the soda glutrin or sulphite glutrin respectively.

In the use of the above chemicals, any suitable mechanical means may be used to contain the chemical portions until the occasion for mixing them together arises and any suitable means may be used to bring the same together to cause a chemical reaction whereby gases are formed, the foam produced and poured or forced over the surface of the burning material. A convenient means for this may comprise a pair of separate containers, in one of which may be placed the soda 'lutrin and in the other,

an acid, such as su phuric acid, and upon the occurrence of a fire, these liquors and substances, conducted by suitable piping, may be forced, as by pumps, to a common point or meetin place in a large conduit where the chem1cals will react and produce the foam and be ejected or projected therefrom upon the surface of the oil or other substance. If the sulphite glutrin be used, the same may be placed 'in one container and the alkali, such as bicarbonate of soda, may be placed in the other container, such ortions being forced through suitable con uits to a'meeting point and caused to mix in a large conduit from which the foam produced therein may be forced over the surface of the oil or like material. When the mixture takes place, carbonic acid gas or other non-combustible gas is evolved from the alkali and gas bearing. chemicals. When using sodaglutrin the gas is produced from the chemicals forming part of the soda liquor or glutrin, and when using sulgas is evolved from the chemical mixed wit said ,glutrin as said chemicals react with the acids mixed with said glutrin. As the dissolved substances of the liquors are viscous, the entrapped gas or bubbles thereof form a heavy foam which, when applied to any surface, will shut-ofl' the oxygen or other supporter of combustion and will thereby stop or prevent a continuation of the burning thereof.

When using the soda liquor, its viscosity and the carbon dioxid gas content thereof may be first determined and if the gas content thereof when liberated be insuflicient to increase the liquor to from 5 to 10 times its original volume, gas bearing chemicals, such as previously mentioned, maybe added to strengthen its properties as above indicated.

if have further found that the extinguishing properties of the foam may be enhanced by the inclusion, in either or both liquid portions, a suitable quantity of carbon tetrachlorid. As an example, the adding of from to 20 parts of carbon tetrachlorid to about 100 parts of either or both solutions, to be mixed together, greatly increases the extinguishing properties of the foam. The carbon tetrachlorid, during the gas and foam formation, enters in the bubbles thereof and when subjected to heat vaporizes into a heav gas blanket thereby, with the foam itsel forming a sort of double blanket for excluding the supporter of combustion.

While I have illustrated a few compounds or mixtures of chemicals in accordance with my invention, it is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular ingredients or compositions mentioned, but that other and equivalent substances may be used as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions'which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction, and the other of said solutions being an alkaline solution.

I 2. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction, and the other of said solutions comprising an alkaline glutrin.

3. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed pro duce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising a sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction, and the other of said solutions comprising a soda glutrin.

4. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions being an acid solution, and the other of said solutions comprising a soda glutrin having an alkaline reaction, a gas producing chemical, and a substance imparting viscosity thereto.

5. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions being an acid solution, and the other of said solutions comprising soda glutrin having an alkaline reaction, and a chemical for producing a non-combustible gas, one of said solutions also containing a substance for increasing the viscosity thereof.

6. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising a sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction, and the other of said solutions comprising an alkaline solution, and a chemical for producing a non-combustible gas dissolved therein.

7. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising a sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction, and the other of said solutions comprising an alkaline solution, and a chemical for producing a non-combustible gas dissolved therein, one of said solutions also containing a substance for increasing the viscosity thereof.

8. A fire extinguishing compound consisting of two solutions which when mixed produce a viscous foam non-supporting to combustion, one of said solutions comprising a sulphite glutrin having an acid reaction,

and the other of said solutions being an alkaline solution, one of said solutions also containing a chemical for producing a noncombustible gas, and one of said solutions also containing a Jubstance for increasing the viscosity thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set may hand this 6th day of July, 1920.

ARTHUR BIDDLE. 

